Hello I was able to get a "NIB" Atlas Alco S2 silver serie (dcc ready I believe): I know about the Digitraz DZ126IN: https://www.digitrax.com/products/mobile-decoders/dz126in/ Any other recommendations? without or with sound? Also, any links for installations (regardless of the decoder)
I used that decoder and thought it was going to be a piece of cake but it wasn't. Plugging the decoder in was once I got to that point but getting the shell (cab part) off was not easy for me. Hopefully easier for you. Here is the first part of the install. . . The rest of it is on my site ..... http://1fatgmc.com/RailRoad/Decoder-1/page-9.html Make sure to get the pins right since they aren't marked.... .... more about that on the install here....... http://1fatgmc.com/RailRoad/Decoder-1/page-9.html Sumner
I followed Sumner's example on a pair of DC S2s I obtained, and the first loco went perfectly as shown. On the second loco, the long hood would not fit back into the cab opening no matter what. I ended up filing off the little ridge on the long hood flange that slips into the opening in the cab. Once the long hood is in place and the screws are in place again, it's not going anywhere anyway. Just a tiny bit of filing (with as small & fine a file as you can find) was all it needed. The shiny, filed surface is hidden inside the cab. Both work perfectly now. I used a pair of Zimo Nano series NEM651 compatible plug-in decoders (I think the P/N was MX616N), and am very happy with them. I wish all N scale locos would use the same kind of plug-in decoder. The factory light board would be a little more expensive (connector plus jumper board that stands in for the decoder on DC versions), but it sure would make things simpler when upgrading from DC to DCC (or reverting).
awesome i love these how to videos ect Thanks for sharing . the video sumner posted makes it look easy.
So the Digitrax DZ126IN will fit as well as the TCS EUN651...Price difference is ~$8.50 where I usually purchase my decoders I know a lot of people are saying TCS are much better than Digitrax..... Could the Digitrax be as good as the TCS with optimized adjustment/configuration? Or the TCS will always be better, no matter what? And when we say better, is it slightly better, or much better? Thanks
TCS, Zimo and ESU are all much better than Digitrax in some ways, and some ways they are all about the same. The question is do you want the advanced features like RailCOM that the other decoders have over Digitrax? Or even better, are all your other locomotives using Digitrax already? If so that may be the better solution. The other manufacturers have features and capabilities that are different than Digitrax, but if you do not plan on using the other features, keep life simple and stay with the brand you are using. If you are using consisting, it has been my experience that all the decoders being the same DCC manufacturer in a consist work out better than intermixed decoders from other manufacturers. For example they all have their own algorithms for calculating Back EMF and momentum.
You may or may not be able to program momentum in two different brand/series decoders and get them to behave well together in a consist. It's not always whether one brand/series of decoder performs a feature better than another brand, but whether the brand can play well with the brands on your other locos in a consist. If you don't use these features, or don't run consists (e.g. switchers and steamers), then it does not matter.
It would be for the S2 switcher...so no consist Just thought about going with TCS to "check by myself" the reputation But it would be my very 1st TCS decoder, all the other ones (~15) being Digitrax
I've seen prototypes consist S2's... There's a prototype for everything! If you are happy with what you have, I see no need to change. But there's always that wonder about what else is out there, around the next bend...
I've just installed the DZ 126IN...It went well, I even found it was easy, following one of the Youtube video This engine is super quiet...... I will have to figure out the different lighting effects (I'm using JMRI) Now, I wonder how I'm going to fit a decoder (and which one) inside the tiny Arnold V45....The Alco S2 seems huge next to it !
